Aerosol dispenser with auxiliary valve

ABSTRACT

An aerosol dispenser having a pair of fluid valves, one of which is an auxiliary valve and can be used to purge the dispenser nozzle to prevent caking or solidifying of the dispensed material, such as paint which has dried in the nozzle orifice after being dispensed by the main valve of the dispenser. The auxiliary valve is located so that it can be placed in direct fluid communication with the space containing the pressurized gas of the dispenser. The nozzle is removably mountable on either valve and is normally carried by the main valve. In a preferred embodiment of the dispenser, the auxiliary valve is located on the top of the dispenser so that it can communicate directly with the pressurized gas in the upper portion of the dispenser. This invention relates to improvements in aerosol dispensers and, more particularly, to such a dispenser having an auxiliary valve for use in cleaning out the nozzle normally carried on the main valve thereof.

United States Patent [1 Butler Aug.-7, 1973 AEROSOL DISPENSER WITH AUXILIARY VALVE [76] Inventor: James L. Butler, 16th & Hwy. 1,

Montara, Calif. 94037 [22] Filed: July 28, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 276,207

{52] U.S. Cl 222/148, 239/112, 239/397 [51] Int. Cl B67d 1/08 {58] Field of Search 137/338; 222/148,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,593,889 7/1971 Prussiv 222/148 3,653,553 4/1972 Prussiv 222/148 Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Assistant Examiner-L. Martin Attorney-Stephen S. Townsend et al.

[57] ABSTRACT An aerosol dispenser having a pair of fluid valves, one of which is an auxiliary 'valve and can be used to purge the dispenser nozzle to prevent caking or solidifying of the dispensed material, such as paint which has dried in the nozzle orifice after being dispensed by the main valve of the dispenser. The auxiliary valve is located so that it can be placed in direct fluid communication with the space containing the pressurized gas of the dispenser. The nozzle is removably mountable on either valve and is normally carried by the main valve. In a preferred embodiment of the dispenser, the auxiliary valve is located on the top of the dispenser so that it can communicate directly with the pressurized gas in the upper portion of the dispenser.

This invention relates to improvements in aerosol dispensers and, more particularly, to such a dispenser having an auxiliary valve for use in cleaning out the nozzle normally carried on the main valve thereof.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures AEROSOL DISPENSER WITH AUXILIARY VALVE BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART Aerosol dispensers which dispense materials capable of solidifying or caking, such as paint or the like, often suffer from the problem of blocking of the dispenser nozzle by a small residue hardening of the materials after use. Thus, the nozzle must be cleaned out before the dispenser can be used again. One way to clean out the nozzle is to invert the dispenser so that the tube leading into the dispenser from the valve coupled to the nozzle will communicate with the gas above the'material. However, this causes a portion of the material to be dispensed along with the gas and thereby wasted; whereas, it is desired that only the gas itself be used to clean out the nozzle.

Attempts have been made to modify the dispenser valve for clean-out of the nozzle immediately after use and as the nozzle remains on its valve. For the most part, these attempts have resulted in very complicated valve structrues so as to cause the dispenser to be relatively high in cost and thereby economically unfeasible for purchase by many consumers. Typical of these attempts have been the structures disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 3,341,082; 3,497,112; 3,583,606; and 3,653,553. All of these structures disclose valves which trigger a burst of gas after use. Such valves are extremely complicated and require very accurately molded parts, thus necessitating precision assembly technique.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art by providing an aerosol dispenser having an auxiliary valve on the dispenser in addition to the primary or main valve. The auxiliary valve is used to clean out the nozzle normallycoupled to the main valve, the nozzle being removable from each valve. The auxiliary valve is located so that it can make direct fluid communication with the space containing the pressurized gas used as the propellant of the dispenser. Thus, the auxiliary valve utilizes only the gas itself and no portion of the material to be dispensed for cleaning out the no zspace of the dispenser. The auxiliary valve can be located at other positions, such as at the bottom of the dispenser. However,in this position, the auxiliary valve would be operative only when the dispenser is inverted.

Nonetheless, nomaterials will be dispensed through the auxiliary valve because of the direct fluid communication with the propellant gas.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide an aerosol dispenser-which utilizes an auxiliary valve which can *be used to clean out the nozzle normally carried on the main valve of the dispenser after the dispenser hasbeen usedto thereby render the eonstruction suitable for use with dispensers which carry paint or other similar materials capable of drying or setting in a manner toblock the nozzle.

Another object of this invention is to provide an aerosol dispenser of thetype described wherein an auxiliary 'valveis carried on the dispenser at a location at which it can make direct fluid communication with the propellant gas of the dispenser to thereby assure that only the gas and not the materials normally dispensed from the dispenser will be used to clean out the nozzle.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved aerosol dispenser of the aforesaid character wherein the auxiliary valve thereof is simple and rugged in construction and can be readily used by even the most unskilled persons so as to render the dispenser economical to produce and easy to keep in working ordef.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the following specifications progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing for an illustration of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the aerosol dispenser of this invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the dispenser showing the way in which it is used to dispense materialscarried. therein; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the way in which the nozzle of the dispenser is cleaned out by the propellant gas thereof. r t i The aerosol dispenser of this invention is broadly denoted by the. numeral .10 andinclludes a container 12 having a main valve 14 on which anozzle 16 is remov ably mounted. Container 12 includes a continuous sidewall 20, a top 22 and a bottom 24,.the top and bottom closing the open ends of the sidewall. The container is adapted to contain a flowable material, such as paint, and such material is propelled upwardly through a tube 26, through main valve 14 and out of the orifice of nozzle 16 when the main valve is opened and when the upper surface of the material is subjected to a pressurized gas serving as a propellant. The upper surface 28 of the material mass 30 is spaced below top 22 to define a region 32 for containingthe propellant gas. The open lower end of tube 26 is normally adjacent to bottom 24.

Valve 14 may beof any conventional type but preferably it is of a simple construction. For purposes of illustration, valve 14 includes a valve member 34 and means on the lower surface of top 22 for defining a valve seat against which the valve member engages to close the valve itself. A coilspring 36 biases the valve member into its closed position, the valve member having a short, tubular stem 38 which extends upwardly through an opening 40 in top .22 and nozzle 16 is removably mounted on the upper end of stem 38 so that the orifice of the nozzle communicates with the stem.

To clean out the nozzle, an auxiliary valve 42 is provided on top 22 in direct fluid communication with region 32 above fluid level 28. Valve 42 has a valve member 44 which isbiased upwardly and into engagement withthelower surface of top 22 to close an opening 46 therein. The bias means maybe comprised of a portion of the propellant gas adjacent to and below the flat lower face 48 of valve member 44. In the alternative, a spring can be used to bias the valve membenthe latter'havinga short,tubular stem 50 extending upwardly through opening 46 and guided by an annular guide member 52 carried on the inner surface of a short sleeve 54 rigid to top'22. Nozzle 1.6 canberemovably mountedon the upper end of stemSQforfluid commufor placing the stem in fluid communication with region 32 when valve 42 is open.

In use, dispenser is used in the normal manner, main valve 14 being actuated in the conventional manner such as by depressing nozzle 16, therebyopening valve 14 and allowing the flowable material to pass up wardly through tube 26 and valve 14 and then to exit from nozzle 16 in the form of a spray. After use, nozzle 15 is removed from stem 38 and placed on stem 50. Then auxiliary valve 16 is actuated by forcing the nozzle downwardly to open the valve member and allow a portion of the pressurized gas to exit through the valve and out of the nozzle, thereby cleaning out the latter and leaving its orifice substantially completely free of any material previously dispensed therethrough. When this is completed, the nozzle is again removed from stem 50 and placed back on stem 38. The dispenser can then be stored, yet by ready for immediate use.

While the foregoing description relates to the way in which the auxiliary valve is located on the top of the container, it is possible to mount the auxiliary valve at other locations, such as, on the bottom thereof in a position which still permits the container to be supported in an upright position on a shelf or the like. To this end, container 12 has a concave outer surface so as to allow the outer periphery of the bottom to rest on a supporting surface without interference from auxiliary valve 42. If valve 42 islocated on the bottom, the container must be inverted before the nozzle can be cleaned out. The reason for this is that the bottom then becomes the top of the container and the pressurized gas will then be directly adjacent to the auxiliary valve. When valve member 44 is depressed, stem 50 will be placed in direct fluid communication with gas-containing region 32 notwithstanding the fact of the auxiliary valve being mounted on bottom 24 of the container, thereby allowing the nozzle to be cleaned out by flow of only the propellant gas and not the material.

I claim:

1. An aerosol dispenser comprising: a closed container adapted to contain a flowable material to be dispensed and a mass of a pressurized gas for propelling the material out of the container; a main valve mounted on the container above the level of said material and having a tube coupled therewith and extending downwardly therefrom below said level, said main valve adapted to be normally opened to allow said gas to propel the material through the tube and the valve outwardly of the container; a nozzle removably mountable on the main valve in fluid coupled relationship thereto to direct the material outwardly of the container; and an auxiliary valve carried by the container at a location at which the valve can be placed in direct fluid communication with said gas when the container is in a predetermined orientation, said nozzle being remo'vably mountable on the auxiliary valve, whereby the'noz'zle can be cleaned out by the pressurized gas when'the -4 nozzle is coupled to the auxiliary valve and the latter is opened.

2. An aerosol dispenser as set forth in claim' 1, wherein said container is provided with a top, said main and auxiliary valves being mounted on said top,

3. An aerosol dispenser as set forth in claim 2, wherein said auxiliary valve is provided with a valve member engageable with the lower surface of the top to close the auxiliary valve, said auxiliary valve being disposed at a location permitting the gas in said container to bias the valve member against said lower surface, of the top.

4. An aerosol dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container has a top provided with an opening therethrough, said auxiliary valve including av valve member provided with a tubular stem extending through the opening with the valve member being movable into and out of closing relationship to said opening, said nozzle being removably mountable on said stem.

5. An aerosol dispenser as set forth in claimv .1,

wherein said auxiliary valve includes a valvemember.

having a flat, lower face and an upper face engageable with the lower surface of the top, said valve member capable of being biased against said lower surface by the pressurized gas in the container.

6. An aerosol dispenser comprising: a container comprised of a continuous sidewall, a top and a bottom,-

said top having a pair of openings therethrough, said container adapted to contain a mass of flowable material having an initial level spaced below said top, and a mass of a propellant in the region between said level and said top; a main valve coupled with the top and having a shiftable valve member provided with a first,

tubular stem extending through one of the openings; means biasing the valve member into a position closing said one opening; a tube coupled with the valve member and extending downwardly therefrom below said level in the container, whereby the material can be propelled upwardly through the tube and through said main valve and the tubular stem thereof when said valve member is shifted away from said one opening; a nozzle having an orifice, the nozzle being removably mountable on said first stem, whereby the material passing through the latter can exit from the container; and an auxiliary valve having a shiftable valve member provided with a second tubular stem extending through the other opening, the last-mentioned valve member being biased against the lower surface of the top to close said other opening and being movable away therefrom to open said other opening, said second stem having means placing it in fluid communication with said region when said other opening is opened, said nozzle being removably mountable on said second stem to allow the nozzle to be cleaned out by said gas when the auxiliary valve is opened.

t i i t i 

1. An aerosol dispenser comprising: a closed container adapted to contain a flowable material to be dispensed and a mass of a pressurized gas for propelling the material out of the container; a main valve mounted on the container above the level of said material and having a tube coupled therewith and extending downwardly therefrom below said level, said main valve adapted to be normally opened to allow said gas to propel the material through the tube and the valve outwardly of the container; a nozzle removably mountable on the main valve in fluid coupled relationship thereto to direct the material outwardly of the container; and an auxiliary valve carried by the container at a location at which the valve can be placed in direct fluid communication with said gas when the container is in a predetermined orientation, said nozzle being removably mountable on the auxiliary valve, whereby the nozzle can be cleaned out by the pressurized gas when the nozzle is coupled to the auxiliary valve and the latter is opened.
 2. An aerosol dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is provided with a top, said main and auxiliary valves being mounted on said top.
 3. An aerosol dispenser as set forth in claim 2, wherein said auxiliary valve is provided with a valve member engageable with the lower surface of the top to close the auxiliary valve, said auxiliary valve being disposed at a location permitting the gas in said container to bias the valve member against said lower surface of the top.
 4. An aerosol dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container has a top provided with an opening therethrough, said auxiliary valve including a valve member provided with a tubular stem extending through the opening with the valve member being movable into and out of closing relationship to said opening, said nozzle being removaBly mountable on said stem.
 5. An aerosol dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary valve includes a valve member having a flat, lower face and an upper face engageable with the lower surface of the top, said valve member capable of being biased against said lower surface by the pressurized gas in the container.
 6. An aerosol dispenser comprising: a container comprised of a continuous sidewall, a top and a bottom, said top having a pair of openings therethrough, said container adapted to contain a mass of flowable material having an initial level spaced below said top, and a mass of a propellant in the region between said level and said top; a main valve coupled with the top and having a shiftable valve member provided with a first tubular stem extending through one of the openings; means biasing the valve member into a position closing said one opening; a tube coupled with the valve member and extending downwardly therefrom below said level in the container, whereby the material can be propelled upwardly through the tube and through said main valve and the tubular stem thereof when said valve member is shifted away from said one opening; a nozzle having an orifice, the nozzle being removably mountable on said first stem, whereby the material passing through the latter can exit from the container; and an auxiliary valve having a shiftable valve member provided with a second tubular stem extending through the other opening, the last-mentioned valve member being biased against the lower surface of the top to close said other opening and being movable away therefrom to open said other opening, said second stem having means placing it in fluid communication with said region when said other opening is opened, said nozzle being removably mountable on said second stem to allow the nozzle to be cleaned out by said gas when the auxiliary valve is opened. 